Maximum recommended file size for public distribution?

Question

I'm producing a project with multiple PDFs that will be circulated to a goup of seniors aged 70 and older. I anticipate that some may be using older computers.
Most of my PDFs are small, but one at 7.4 MB is at the smallest size I can output the document as it stands. I'm wondering if that size may be too large. If necessary, I can break it into two documents, or maybe even three.
Does anyone with experience producing PDFs for public distribution have a sense of a maximum recommended file size?
I note that at http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/ the Internal Revenue Service hosts 2,012 PDFs, of which only 50 are 4 MB or larger.
Thanks!

Answer 1

First Open the PDF  Use Optimizer to examine the PDF.
a Lot of times when I create PDF's I end up with a half-dozen copies of the same font and fontfaces. If you remove all the duplicates that will reduce the file size tremendously.
Another thing is to reduce the dpi of any Graphicseven for printing they don't need to be any larger than 200DPI.
and if they are going to be viewed on acomputer screen only no more than 150 DPI tops and if you can get by with 75DPI that will be even better.
Once you set up the optimized File save under a different name and see what size it turns out. Those to thing s can sometimes reduce file size by as much as 2/3's.